The award was granted to parish priest and head of the Saint Elisabeth Aid Fund board Géza Dúl, senior official of the Jewish community of Újpest László Rozner, dean and parish priest László Somos, chief secretary of the Christian-Jewish Society József Szécsi and teacher Mrs. József Tóth.
The award named after Swedish diplomat Wallenberg, who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, was granted by an evaluation committee set up by Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller, the Social Affairs and Labour Ministry, the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the Raoul Wallenberg Society, the Association of Local Councils and the Roma Civil Rights Foundation.
László Rozner received the award from dit Rauh
The recently award recognises people who play an active role in promoting the coexistence of various ethnic groups and religious communities and in fighting prejudice. The award comes with a cash purse.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and head of the award committee Edit Rauh said that Dúl, in his position as national secretary for Roma affairs in the Hungarian Catholic Church, created a unique "network" in the Vác parish. He has set up joint study groups and a dance troupe for Roma and non-Roma people, and created jobs.
As a volunteer since 1995, Rozner has supported the activities of the Roma minority council in Újpest. He has used his excellent communication skills and empathy to work with those in need and the relevant authorities, saving many people from ending up on the street, Rauh said.
Somos has set up a care centre in Baglyaspuszta and helped hundreds of mostly illiterate Roma people living in the area by organising donations of food, medicines, clothing and money. With the help of four teachers, he helps some 55 Roma to do their schoolwork at a study centre he established
József Szécsi received the award from Edit Rauh
Szécsi, as a Catholic theologian, "has fulfilled especially important civil duties in maintaining links between religious communities and various denominations" and carried out tasks to meet the targets of the Raoul Wallenberg Society, Rauh said.
During 50 years as a teacher, Tóth has set up daytime activities, courses and clubs among Roma people. She has travelled to Roma communities to follow up on her students and also published a great deal about her findings, Rauh said.
Ombudsman for national and ethnic minority rights Ernő Kállai said there is trouble in Hungary today, especially in minority affairs because prejudices have increased. Roma often come in conflict with local communities and "resolving this is rather difficult, especially since politics often alleviate the situation," Kállai said. Churches can play an important role in social renewal but "they are only starting to support minority initiatives in Hungary," he added.
Anders Karlsland, deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d'affaires of the Swedish Embassy, expressed his thanks to the recipients, saying that they had acted in the spirit of Wallenberg to fight intolerance.
